Voices from the Republican Convention 2016

What do delegates want for the GOP?
Reporting By Natalie Andrews and Tracy Armstead
Photographs By T.J. Kirkpatrick

Published
July 20, 2016

Advertisement

Dean Stoecker, 59, California delegate

Dean Stoecker, 59, California delegate

“[Donald Trump] is going to put America back to work. He’s going to renegotiate trade contracts, he’s going to keep jobs here, and we’ll see wages go up and a revitalization of capitalism."

Judy Baldasaro, 52, New Hampshire delegate

Judy Baldasaro, 52, New Hampshire delegate

“We have the tea party groups, you have the conservatives, you have the moderates, you have what people call the “Rinos.” What we want to be able to see is the Republican party covering those issues in a way where we can unify.”

Karen Hale, 53, Texas delegate

Karen Hale, 53, Texas delegate

"We're not going to all agree 100% of the time but if we can all get really close, I think we're going to move forward much more quickly."

Connor Price, 18, Texas delegate

Connor Price, 18, Texas delegate

"I hope to just grow the party. I'd like to see more minorities join, more students, more young people, because really without us, the Republican Party won't last long."

Elizabeth Smith, 56, alternate Ohio delegate

Elizabeth Smith, 56, alternate Ohio delegate

"I think the debate that we've seen recently is a very good debate. We do need to make sure we are reaching out to all people, for our message of limited governments and our inalienable rights that we must protect."

Marian Sheridan, 62, Michigan delegate

Marian Sheridan, 62, Michigan delegate

“I'm very excited about the new platform. I think it’s a stronger platform than 2012. I think it’s a great representation of the Republican Party…. Every presidential candidate has a real finger fronthold on the platform and Donald Trump is no different.”

Rob Ward, 40, alternate North Carolina delegate

Rob Ward, 40, alternate North Carolina delegate

“I think that there’s a lot of division in the party. I think a lot of people are unhappy that our party nominated someone they don’t believe has what we perceive as our party’s values... I hope that [Donald Trump] would nominate a conservative Supreme Court judge first. I also hope that he could bring unity to the party.” (Correction: Rob Ward is an alternate delegate. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said he was a delegate.)

Melanie Collins, 45, honorary New Jersey delegate

Melanie Collins, 45, honorary New Jersey delegate

"My hopes for the Republican party is that we have a united message, that we’re not as fractured. I do hope that one of the things that we do is more of an outreach to people of color. I hope to see more of a positive message in that respect." (Correction: Melanie Collins is an honorary delegate. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said she was a delegate.)

Lynda Pagliughi, 67, New Jersey delegate

Lynda Pagliughi, 67, New Jersey delegate

“I’m hoping that we're going to change America. We need some changes here in America desperately… We need to bring people back together again. It seems like we're not united right now.”